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CREST Star

A collection of relevant and fun student-led STEM challenges, developed by the British Science Association, that encourage and support children to explore the world around them.

CREST Star

This collection of engaging, hands-on STEM projects allow children to explore everyday problems using science. Each challenge begins with a story linked to a broader situation that children are likely to be familiar with, giving every project a powerful, real-world context and allowing students to make links with their own lives and experiences.

Every CREST Star project gives children the chance to explore a question or an idea and develop their own hands-on, practical investigation. They are encouraged to think about how to test their ideas, as well as how to record their results and share their findings. The activities are designed to promote the skills needed for independent working, decision making, discussion and communication from a young age.

CREST Star projects cover a broad range of scientific concepts as well as investigative skills and can be used during STEM enrichment activities or to enhance curriculum learning.

Each project takes between 45 minutes and an hour to complete and comes with an organiser’s card as well as a student activity card.

Cost

The resources are free to use and download from the CREST online library. 

Students who complete the eight activities can earn a CREST Star Award, receiving a certificate to celebrate their achievement! Schools receiving Engage grants or Kick Start grants can get their CREST Awards for free, all other UK schools can receive theirs for a small cost, from £1 per pupil.

Learning outcomes

  • Improve engagement, interest or enjoyment in STEM subjects

  • Improve attainment and progress in STEM subjects

  • Develop engineering employability skills

Topics

  • Plants
  • Animals including humans
  • Living things and their habitats
  • Materials
  • Light
  • Sound
  • Seasonal changes
  • Forces

Working scientifically

Whichever curriculum your school follows, pupils should have the opportunity to carry out practical investigations in science that help them to develop their scientific skills. This experience builds the following enquiry skills:

  • Asking questions
  • Making predictions
  • Setting up tests
  • Observing and measuring
  • Recording data
  • Interpreting and communicating results
  • Evaluating

Essential skills

The essential skills every young person needs to succeed in education and their future career. Find out more at the Skills Builder Partnership. This experience builds the following skills:

  • Aiming high - the ability to set clear, tangible goals and devise a robust route to achieving them.

  • Creativity - the use of imagination and the generation of new ideas.

  • Leadership - supporting, encouraging and motivating others to achieve a shared goal.

  • Listening - the ability to listen and understand information.

  • Problem solving - the ability to find a solution to a complex situation or challenge.

  • Speaking - the oral transmission of information or ideas.

  • Staying positive - the ability to use tactics to overcome setbacks and achieve goals.

  • Teamwork - working cooperatively with others towards achieving a shared goal.

Good for a career in...

  • Design
  • Environment
  • Food
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Rail and road transport
What the teachers say

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Competition

goIT Monthly Challenge

The goIT Monthly Challenge is a recurring opportunity for classrooms to directly engage in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the goIT digital innovation.

  • Ages 5 to 11
  • Online
  • Flexible project work
  • Free

Careers resources